Nokia sues Apple in European courts
13-patent broadside opens new front
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Nokia has filed for patent infringement against Apple in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, claiming ownership of more smartphone fundamentals.
The UK filing, for example, covers four patents, including ways of using touch interfaces and on-device application stores. In Germany Nokia is filing twice, in Dusseldorf and Mannheum, with patents including antenna structures, caller ID and display illumination, while in the Netherlands the filing only includes to two patents related to signal noise suppression and data card functionality.
Quite why the filings are spread around Europe in that way isn't clear, nor why the different patents in different countries. But Florian Mueller, of the FOSS, reminds us that it was Apple who brought the dispute across the pond, and that Nokia is likely responding in kind and in the locations already picked by Apple – or perhaps they just fancy a European tour.
Either way, the patents join the 24 that Nokia has already accused Apple of infringing in the USA, and from Nokia's statements on the subject they appear pretty broad too: "For example, using a wiping gesture on a touch screen to navigate content, or enabling access to constantly changing services with an on-device app store".
For those having trouble keeping up, the good Mr Meuller is working on a diagram to show which patents Apple and Nokia are suing each other over, similar to the one he's already constructed detailing Apple vs HTC and Motorola which makes the whole thing as clear as spaghetti. Given the locations and dates, we can't help thinking a tour T-shirt would be more in keeping, though by the time we're done there'll probably be more dates and venues than even the most generous girth can accommodate. ®
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COMMENTS
Go Finland!
Jobs decided to kick the wrong company on this one.
Nokia can show prior art on pretty much everything mobile.
I'll be the first to say...
...Apple asked for it by suing others first. You know, because people should innovate and not just steal others IP.
/mines the one with flame retardant on it
Agree re: this, but part of a bigger game started by Apple ...
I agree that some of this stuff is lame (most software stuff is!), but the original patents regarding some of the radio stuff is not. I suspect this is part of the game for Nokai to get paid their dues there.
As Nokia pointed out at the time they first filed:
- They spent billions on R&D for the radios and protocal stacks. That is not just a patent for a 'software method to do X,Y,Z by checking A, B and C and correlating with input Y in software' ... but stuff that took labs, expensive equipment and highly trained experts from multiple disciplines and real world tests to develop that has real impact i.e. you can or you cannot connect (... something Apple doesn't actually care about!)
- This was spent over 20 years. These radio and protocol patents are not just software algorithms that somebody designed for a touch UI and a few spotty nerds build a prototype for in a few days. It is stuff involving interaction with many bits of other equipment and costing a lot in terms of building and refining.
- Regarding the radio stuff they were suing for, they are being paid royalties for by most of the other manufacturers ... if the other manufacturers recognise that there mobile handset is based on other peoples long and costly R&D, why can't Apple? Freeloading is the word that comes to mind!
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